If you had cable access, would you use it?
Posted by: Noel Jones
I don't know a lot about public access cable television, but I do know that everywhere that I've lived before has had it available to the public for the purposes of broadcasting performances and news issues important to the communities their cable networks serve. Below is a message from one of our readers, Peter Crownfield, who knows a lot more about it than I do, and apparently, Tuesday night there will be a public hearing at City Hall at 6pm focusing on Easton's renegotiation of its cable contracts. If you are interested in having public access cable negotiated as part of Easton's contract, you can speak up at the meeting:
----------
"Easton's cable franchise agreement is going to be renegotiated. Federal law allows local government to require public-access channels to provide access, so why don’t Easton and other Lehigh Valley municipalities do it? It's a wonderful way to empower citizens, especially those whose voices are rarely heard.
In hundreds of cities throughout the U.S., cable franchises include a requirement for the cable company to
provide free public-access channels, and this is true for all sizes of systems -- big cities, small towns, townships, and county-wide franchises. [For example, 25 municipalities in Ohio have public-access channels, as do 25 in tiny Vermont, 45 in Minnesota, and over 100 in Massachusetts -- but only 15 in PA!] Cable providers provide facilities to originate public-access programming, and in many cases they provide additional channels for government and educational use to increase access to meetings and events. In general, production facilities are financed by the cable companies or by a few cents per month added to cable bills, and municipalities often contribute.
Public channels are open to all points of view. Programs range from quirky one-person shows, to public forums by civic organizations, legal clinics, sports shows -- you name it!
How about a regular citizens' forum on West Ward happenings and possibilities? Or maybe you'd like to create your own cooking show for a healthy diet.... review all the latest movies.... offer your perspective on the swine flu... No holds barred!
Just to give an idea of possibilities, following are today’s schedule for a public-access channel in a city of Easton's size [Danvers, MA] and a copy of the article that appeared in today’s Express-Times.
Time Description
12:00 AM Conversations on Cancer's Changing Landscape
06:00 AM Smart Boating: Repower - Part 1
06:30 AM Natural Health Today: October, 2009
07:00 AM Healthy Hypnosis: Sports Hypnosis
07:59 AM Claymation Movie
08:00 AM Off the Shelf: Books on Tour: Featuring: Michael Walling
09:30 AM Shelter Tales: October, 2009
10:00 AM The Arabic Hour: September 26, 2009
11:00 AM North Shore Players: Just Another High School Musical
01:00 PM Conversations on Cancer's Changing Landscape
03:00 PM Flu Facts FAQ Show
04:00 PM Something Healthy to Eat: Ratatouille Lunch
05:00 PM Inspired Cooking: Episode 8 - Strawberry Extravaganza
05:30 PM Ablevision: Episode #24
06:00 PM Derby Street Variety Show: Episode #770801
06:30 PM Shelter Tales: October, 2009
07:00 PM Gracenotes
07:20 PM Claymation Movie
08:00 PM Opinion: Mine/Yours: Immigration
09:00 PM Danvers Business Leaders: The Salvation Army (9/09)
10:00 PM Opinion: Mine/Yours: Immigration
11:00 PM Sonic Lobotomy: Dead Cats, Dead Rats
I suppose their question might be whether anyone would use the channel if provided. They seem to be quite active in other communities, so my guess is that people would step up to create programming. Like anything new, though, it would probably take a while to get established.
Not too many places have two cable providers, so it might take a little searching to come up with the wording to be added to the contract. A conveniently located studio facility would be very important, but there is empty space in Easton!!
With thousands of subscribers, the cost per-subscriber is really tiny -- a couple of year ago, I read about one place where the cost was less than 25 cents/month. In many cases, the municipalities or school systems kick in some money, but that seems unlikely right now."
-----------------Below is the article with the details for the meeting:
Express Times Article by Ed Sieger on Public Hearing Regarding Cable Contract Negotiation
What do you think? With all the creative people we have in Easton, do you think that residents would use public access if it were available? Would you?
My thoughts immediately go to local political candidates forums, or performances by local musicians, a rehabbing "Home Improvement"-type show...a local talk show could be really cool too...
Post your thoughts here!
Noel Jones
Neighbors of Easton
Posts
5 comments:
I always liked the idea of public access.
Problem is that too many people have left cable for satellite. It may be a selling point for local access to get people back.
Another problem is that I have noticed more and more vacancies around town. That does not help cable either.
Wayne's World!
sorry, my only reference point for public access cable is Wayne's World.
In NYC the public programming on Cable TV is awesome. Earl and I have not had cable TV or broadcast TV since 1980, since 'mainstream' TV has become so megabuck lucrative and commercial, vs. programs of local interest. Some notable exceptions however.
Would be great for the NOE Blog to go on Cable TV, yes? :-)
Anyone interested in seeing it happen should attend the meeting at City Hall tonight at 6pm. I will try to attend, but have another meeting at 7pm that I have to get to. If any blog administrators or readers can make it to the meeting to request a public access cable station in the contract, that would be great!
I sent comments in that were read at the meeting, and heard back from Mayor Panto. It looks like there is a good chance that a government access channel will be set up--which is great because then our governments can broadcast City, County and EASD meetings hopefully, as well as candidate forums before elections, which we really need so that voters can learn more about their candidates before voting in local elections.
He also said there is a good chance that public access will be negotiated in, with the programming to be determined down the road, once costs are analyzed.
There will be more public hearings on the cable contracts, so it's important for all who many be interested in having a cable access show down the road, to participate in these meetings, either by attending, or by sending comments in via email or letter.
Post a Comment